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From the archives: York County veteran remembers D-Day

Erin McCracken, Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
06/05/2014 10:29:25 AM EDT

A photo World War II veteran Carson Stauffer kept show troops climbing off a ship and wading through the water to Normandy beaches. Stauffer and his family traveled back to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of D-Day. (File photo)

Carson Stauffer of Spry is shown in his navy uniform during World War II. On D-Day, June, 6, 1944, Stauffer was on the crew the Landing Craft Infantry Large (LCIL) 499, which dropped soldiers at Gold Beach. (File photo)

Editor's note: This story was originally published in June 2009, ahead of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Friday will mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

World War II isn't Carson Stauffer's favorite conversation topic.

The 85-year-old veteran would rather show off his granddaughter's wedding album than his military photos. Some hang in modest frames on his basement walls. Some sit in the closets and drawers of his tidy rancher in Spry, York Township.

But as today's 65th anniversary of D-Day approached, he began to rustle out his memories.

His family hoped a trip to the Normandy American Cemetery would prompt him to share more stories about the time he spent in the waves just beyond the beaches.

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At 8 p.m. June 5, 1944, the skipper of the Landing Craft Infantry Large 499 summoned the crew. Stauffer reported to the deck with the 23 other sailors and five officers.

He was a 20-year-old farm boy from Jefferson, a graduate of Codorus High School who'd never been far from home. He was drafted July 8, 1943, and was selected for the Navy during his physical in Harrisburg. His ship left Norfolk, Va., on Jan. 4, 1944, with a convoy bound for Southampton, England.

During the spring, the LCIL 499 completed training missions and maneuvers on the English Channel while waiting for more ships to assemble. The sailors knew an allied invasion was planned, but they didn't know when or where.

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On the deck of the 158-foot Navy carrier that night 65 years ago, Stauffer and the rest of the crew learned that H hour was 6:30 a.m. June 6.

In the morning, Stauffer's ship set off for the coast of France. He was at the helm and received orders from the skipper. Skies were gray. Seas were rough. About 180 soldiers sat in the carrier's compartments. Most were British troops from the 50th Infantry Division. Most weren't much older than Stauffer. He said he never realized how big the Navy was until that morning.

D-Day was one of the largest air, land and sea invasions ever. About 6,000 ships — landing and carrier vessels — dropped about 160,000 Allied troops along a 50-mile stretch of fortified French coastline.

When the LCIL 499 approached Gold Beach at 11 a.m., its ramps went down. The soldiers filed out and waded through the water to shore. The ship was equipped with five guns, but it didn't receive any heavy fire. Troops hit resistance when they got to land.

“I often think about how many (soldiers) were lost from the first load we took in,” Stauffer said as he sat at the kitchen table with his wife of 61 years, Lavella.

The 50th Division landed 25,000 men, penetrated 6 miles inland and linked up with Canadian troops from Juno Beach to the left. They suffered about 400 casualties.

But Stauffer and his crew weren't finished with their mission on June 6. Three days later, they were back with another ship full of soldiers. During the next few weeks, Stauffer estimated, they made 23 trips across the English Channel to carry troops to Normandy.

Sometimes the ship hit sandbars. When it did, the crew had to drop the troops as planned. Most didn't realize that the water on the other side was deep, and many drowned, weighed down by their packs. The thought still haunts Stauffer.

“It doesn't feel like 65 years ago,” he said.

World War II veteran Carson Stauffer sits at his Spry kitchen and checks the schedule of events for his trip to Normandy in this photo from 2009 about the 65th anniversary of D-Day. (File)

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After the war ended, Stauffer moved back to York County and married Lavella. They had two sons, Jeff and Craig.

The Stauffers' sons knew their father was involved in D-Day. They caught glimpses of his old medals, uniforms and a British military helmet. They bought him books about the Navy. They even tried to arrange a trip to Normandy with him for the 50th anniversary of D-Day, but it was too expensive.

Jeff Stauffer, who served in the Air Force from 1970 to 1973, traded stories with his dad about everyday life in the service, but nothing sparked much conversation about combat.

Then, last year, Carson Stauffer decided to dictate an essay about his time in the Navy to a friend. He wanted it all written down. It was the first time he shared his war stories in years.

When the Stauffers visited Pittsburgh last Thanksgiving, they met up with Craig's daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Jeff Catalina, at a diner. Stauffer began to talk about the essay.

“It was amazing when I read it,” Erin said. The Catalinas knew they had to try to get Stauffer back to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of D-Day. In January, Erin called and asked her grandfather if he was ready to go back to the French beaches.

Stauffer said he understands why some veterans wouldn't want to go back, but he always wanted to return.

“I never thought I'd ever get back,” he said.

Jeff Catalina used frequent flier miles to buy six plane tickets — for himself and Erin; Carson, Craig and Jeff Stauffer; and Erin's brother, Ben. (Lavella decided not to make the trip.) The Stauffers and Catalinas planned to tour the beaches and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, visitors center and museum.

Today, the anniversary of D-Day, they'll attend an afternoon memorial service above Omaha Beach. Since Stauffer is a veteran, he will get priority seating for the event, Erin said. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Prince Charles will also attend the ceremonies.

Jeff Stauffer said he's honored to be able to share the experience with his father.

“This is the chance of a lifetime for him and us,” he said.

Stauffer said he might be emotional when he sees Normandy again, but he's still surprised at his family's reaction to his role in the invasion.